Westlake Fevers Rising for Ventura Game

Although Westlake High’s offense has been nearly unstoppable during the first two weeks of the high school football season, the Warriors might have discovered a nemesis that could slow them when they meet Ventura at 7:30 tonight in a nonleague game at Larrabee Stadium.

Illness.

Westlake quarterback Todd Preston, utility back Seamus Gibbons and receiver Erik Holcomb have missed practices this week because of sickness. Preston, Gibbons and Holcomb missed practice Monday and Tuesday, and Holcomb also sat out Wednesday’s workout.

Preston, a 6-foot-3 senior, has thrown for 351 yards and four touchdowns in Westlake’s two victories. He has not thrown an interception in 38 passes. Gibbons, already slowed by a knee injury, has caught eight passes for 124 yards and Holcomb, a junior, has caught seven for 184 yards.

Westlake Coach Jim Benkert said Preston and Gibbons will play tonight, but he will wait until today to determine if Holcomb will play.

“If we get Holcomb back, we’ll be OK,” Benkert said.

Running back Reuben Allen has provided Westlake with a formidable rushing attack. Allen, a senior who rushed for 217 yards last season, has gained 284 yards in 24 carries this season.

Ventura (2-0), a favorite to win the Channel League title, escaped from Newbury Park on Friday with a 21-20 win--courtesy of a 68-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Dietz to Tommy Ruelas as time expired.

“We were lucky,” Ventura Coach Harvey Kochel said.

Fullback Jack Hammond, who missed last week’s game because of a hand injury, will return. In Hammond’s absence, tailback Derek Swafford rushed for 119 yards in 11 carries.

Ventura, which averages 221 rushing yards a game, is led by a large offensive line that includes tackle Samsun Okinaga (6-0, 225 pounds), an all-league selection last year.

“They are very quick and very aggressive,” Benkert said of Ventura. “We have a lot of respect for Hammond, and Swafford can score any time he touches the ball.”

Last year, Ventura beat Westlake, 34-28. This year, the scoreboard could blow a circuit. Westlake averages 367 yards a game and Ventura averages 342.

“There’s a chance that a lot of points will be scored,” Benkert said. “I know if we don’t stop their running game, they’ll run wild.”